Adopted by the Devil - Matt Murdock (BOOK ONE)

Chapter 14

It took a few weeks for Jasper to get adjusted, and even less time for Lizzie to adjust. Caroline found it easy to connect with Lizzie, the young girl reminding her of Quinn when she was younger just with more chaos attached to her personality. But with Jasper, she struggled to connect. She knew he had trouble with relationships. She knew of the horrible relationship he had with his father but with his mother, She didn’t know anything. 

It was late, the house dark as she came back from a late shift. She sighed, locking the door behind her as she placed her bags down.

She had her routine every night after work. She unpacked her bag, put her dirty dishes away, and cleaned up before heading upstairs for the night.

She walked upstairs and had a quick shower, washing up before pulling some more comfortable clothes on. She exited the bathroom dressed and stopped suddenly.

She furrowed her brows as she heard  some mumbling coming from one of the bedrooms. She followed the sounds, looking in Lizzie and Quinn’s rooms and finding them both fast asleep.

She poked her head into Jaspers's room and exhaled, quietly slipping in. Jasper was fast asleep but muttering in his sleep. She walked over and sat beside him, gently shaking his shoulder as his voice became louder and his body movements more sporadic. “Jasper,” she said softly, trying to gently wake the boy. “Jasper?” she repeated, shaking him a bit more. 

After a few more moments of shaking the sleeping boy, Jasper jolted awake with a gasp and instinctively he swung his fist, nearly missing Caroline. His closed fist collided with the wall behind him. His eyes widened, his whole body freezing as his eyes caught Caroline's.  His breathe caught in his throat as he pulled his fist back from the wall.

Caroline sat back, her heart hammering in her chest, holding her hands back as she exhaled.

“I’m sorry I didn’t..” he whispered, his hands shaking as he sat up fully. He pressed a hand to his chest, struggling to catch his breathe. Caroline’s expression softened.

“You’re alright…” she said softly, keeping her hands to herself. “Deep breathes, one in and one out,” she stated.

Jasper nodded, shakily breathing in and out. He regained himself, shifting against the back of the pull-out. He rubbed his face, squeezing his eyes shut.

“Do you wanna talk about it?” she asked gently, offering her hand. He opened his eyes and looked at her, his hands holding the back of his head. He hesitantly nodded, moving his hands and taking a moment before taking hers. She smiled gently and squeezed his hand softly. Her thumb gently rubbed his red fist. He gulped before talking.

“It uh… was about the party… what happened…” he whispered. Caroline tensed up a bit, holding his hand a bit tighter. “I… I think I’m finally processing what happened and I… I dont know what to do about it…” he stammered, his voice wobbling as he spoke as quiet tears fell. Caroline nodded her head, scotting beside him.

“What can I do to help?” she asked quietly, looking over at the shattered boy who sat beside her. He looked up at her, tears rolling down his cheeks and leaned into her. She wrapped her arms around him and rubbed his back, caressing him in an tight embrace. He encircled his arms around her torso and nuzzled his face in her shoulder.

She smelt like eucalpytis and just fresh in general, comfortable and motherly. What he needed in that moment.

He let out convulsive gasps, letting out small gasps for air as his shoulder’s shook. His tears stained her sleep shirt. She rocked the two of them back and forth, kissing his temple as she softly spoke to him.

“What happened to you, wasnt your fault,” she whispered, squeezing him as she spoke. “It is never your fault.. If you want, I know of help groups for people, people who have gone through the same thing as you, if that sounds okay to you?” she offered, rubbing his back and shoulders.

He nodded, gripping onto her. He didnt remember the last time he had this, his kind of embrace, this type of hold. He was a kid and he was finally feeling like one again.

Caroline nodded and wiped his cheek. “Okay, I’ll call around tomorrow…” 

After what seemed like hours, Jasper fell asleep in Caroline’s embrace. She ended up falling asleep beside him till she woke up and tucked him in, kissing his brow before climbing into her own bed.